Blank’s visit highlighted the President’s plans to
strengthen U.S. manufacturing and foster a new era of American energy
development. In the State of the Union, the President proposed reducing tax
rates for American manufacturers and doubling the tax deduction for high-tech
manufacturers. He also called for Congressional action on clean energy tax
credits and laid out a proposal for new incentives to encourage manufacturers
to make energy efficiency upgrades that would save $100 billion on the nation’s
energy bills.

Blank discussed the Department’s efforts to support
American manufacturers, so they’re better able to build their products in
America and sell them all around the globe. The Commerce Department currently
helps support manufacturers in several ways, including recently creating the
National Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Program Office to bring together
stakeholders and drive investments and initiatives in advanced manufacturing.
Meanwhile, the Department’s trade specialists, who are located in offices
throughout the country and in more than 70 nations around the world, work daily
to connect U.S. businesses looking to export to buyers overseas, and Commerce’s
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office helps businesses and entrepreneurs transform
their ideas into new products and innovations.